Around the Nation (Feb. 15): Hiram hires new men's soccer coach

Published: February 16, 2013 4:00AM

ASSOCIATED PRESS

n SOCCER

Hiram College names Zemanski as new men's soccer coach

Hiram College officials appointed Daniel J. Zemanski to the position of head men's soccer coach on Thursday. Zemanski has served as the first assistant with the program for the past eight years and has assisted head coach Carl Capellas, who recently resigned to join the soccer staff at the University of Akron.

Zemanski is a 1984 graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he also played soccer as a student-athlete for the Tarheels. Before arriving at UNC in 1982, Zemanski played for two seasons at the University of Pittsburgh. From 1988-1995, he played semi-professional soccer with the Lake Erie All-Stars.

Prior to coming to Hiram, Zemanski was an assistant boys soccer coach at Hudson High School. He also coached youth soccer with the GFS Soccer Club and the Everest Soccer Club in Hudson, where he currently works as director of the club and has won several State Cup Championships. He currently coaches the Everest U18 premier team, which is ranked fourth-nationally in the age group. In addition, he has made coaching stops at Upper St. Clair High School in Western, Pennsylvania and the Beadling Soccer Club in Pittsburgh, Pa.

"Dan is an extraordinary talent evaluator and recruiter," said Hiram College Director of Athletics Tom Mulligan. "He has been active with all facets of our program during the past eight years and is well-connected with youth, club, and high school coaches throughout the Midwest. We feel very confident that he can continue the growth of our program."

n BASKETBALL

Payton, Hardaway lead list of HOF finalists

HOUSTON -- Gary Payton, Tim Hardaway and Mitch Richmond are among 12 finalists for election into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

The announcement of the finalists kicked off All-Star Weekend in Houston.

Former Houston Cougars coach Guy Lewis has been chosen as a finalist for the first time since 2003. Current Louisville coach Rick Pitino and former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian also are finalists for the 2013 class.

The others includes former NBA stars Maurice Cheeks, Spencer Haywood and Bernard King, longtime North Carolina women's coach Sylvia Hatchell and five-time WNBA All-Star Dawn Staley. Boston Celtics great Tom Heinsohn, already inducted as a player, is a finalist in the coaching category.

The 2013 class will be announced at the Final Four in April.

n FOOTBALL

Packers release DB Charles Woodson

The Green Bay Packers have released veteran defensive back Charles Woodson.

General manager Ted Thompson announced the move Friday, saying the team would not have won the 2010 Super Bowl without Woodson and saying the "once-in-a-generation talent" was an ambassador for the organization off the field.

The 36-year-old Woodson has two years left on a five-year contract that was worth as much as $55 million. His agent, Carl Poston, says Woodson still wants to play for a Super Bowl contender.

Goodell paid more than $29M by NFL in 2011

NEW YORK -- Commissioner Roger Goodell was paid $29.49 million by NFL owners in 2011, nearly triple his compensation from the previous year.

According to the league's most recent tax return, most of Goodell's pay comes in the form of a $22.3 million bonus. His base pay was $3.1 million. The NFL was scheduled to file the return Friday.

While the league declined comment on specifics, it must, by law, make the return available upon request.

In 2011, Goodell helped the league reach a new 10-year labor deal and work out lucrative TV contracts.

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank issued a statement calling the NFL the "most successful and best-managed sports league in the world," and it "is in no small part due to Roger's leadership." He added that Goodell's "compensation reflects that."

n BASEBALL

Kotchman inks minors contract with Marlins

JUPITER, Fla. -- First baseman Casey Kotchman has signed a minor-league contract with the Miami Marlins and is expected to join their major-league camp Saturday.

Kotchman hit .229 in 142 games last year for Cleveland. He had 12 homers and 55 RBI.

The left-handed batter is a career .262 hitter in nine major-league seasons.